Argentina is looking like world beaters! Their energy is way above that of other teams at present. Perhaps the USA team can learn from that and play like their future depends upon going flat out at their opponents ... it does yaknow.
We (GERMANY!!!) will knock Argentina out - lately in BERLIN on July 9th! :-)
´54 x ´74 - 1990 = 2006
But you´re right, they´re VERY strong.
I think Argentina beat Bulgaria 5-1 in the group stages in 1998 before flaming out. Then they tanked in 2002 of course. Argentina is very talented, but they can easily lose before the semi-finals on a bad day. This should be an open cup. I see Italy, Czech, Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Germany (because they are hosts) all potentially winning this thing.
I first saw big-time soccer when I worked in Italy.
Noioso (boring). The Eyeties had developed this elaborate ballet style of play which consisted of long periods of defensive half-speed shuffling about interrupted by 1.72 nano-seconds in which (hopefully) they (or some other foreigner in really bad shorts) scored a goal. "Some sport," says I. Writing off the great game as some sort of decadent Euro-Aberration, which rewarded histrionics rather than athletic ability.
But then, I saw the Argentines play, and some great English teams ... whole 'nuther deal! So today, I hope the Americans kick it up a notch and out-energize the Italians ... hustle'em right off the field!